Traumatic realism : the demands of Holocaust representation

Presents a post-Holocaust view of contemporary culture. Examines, in particular, the question of realism as one of the central problematics that the Holocaust forces back into view. Pt. 1 (p. 17-96), "Modernism 'After Auschwitz', " discusses the philosophers Theodor Adorno and Maurice Blanchot. Pt. 2 (p. 97-177), "Realism in 'the Concentrationary Universe', " deals with the literary works of Ruth Klueger and Charlotte Delbo. Pt. 3 (p. 179-273), "Postmodernism, or 'the Year of the Holocaust', " deals with Philip Roth, Art Spiegelman, and Americanizing the Holocaust. Derives from Holocaust testimonies the concept of traumatic realism as a way of superseding the realist vs. anti-realist dichotomy. Stresses the relation between present and past, and a shift from events to their transmission, including in mass culture, via such forms as comic books, feature films, and museum exhibits. Includes bibliographical references (pages 299-313) and index. xi, 323 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm